National Fire Prevention Month

TYLER — The Tyler Red Cross is helping observe October as National Fire Prevention Month. Red Cross staffers say the biggest disaster threat to families across our nation every day isn�t floods, hurricanes or tornadoes; it�s fire. On average, nationally, the American Red Cross responds to more than 63,000 fires each year. That�s about 170 responses a day or one every eight minutes. Locally the Smith County Chapter responds to approximately 150 of those fires each year.

Red Cross officials say home fires can strike quickly and without warning, devastating lives and property. But unlike other disasters, officials say, most home fires can be prevented. The Red Cross says it’s committed to giving people the information they need to reduce their risk of home fires, and to helping people recover after a fire happens. At any time of day or night, trained Red Cross volunteers respond to the scene of fires and provide food, shelter, and emotional support to those affected.

The Red Cross encourages people to remember two key fire safety steps to protect their home and loved ones from fires: Get a smoke alarm, and have a fire escape plan. Red Cross staffers say smoke alarms save lives. Statistics show 65 percent of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or with smoke alarms that don�t work. Staffers advise:

– Make sure you have a smoke alarm on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
– Test your smoke alarm once a month by pushing the test button, and replace the batteries at least once a year.

According to Red Cross officials, fires can spread throughout your home in minutes, so when every second counts, having a plan can help you escape. Officials say home fire escape plans should include at least two ways to escape from every room of your home. Also, you’re advised to select a meeting spot at a safe distance from your home where family members can go after escaping. After discussing your plan with all members of your household, officials say, you should practice the plan twice a year. You can visit http://www.redcross.org/homefires for more information on how to reduce your risk of home fires or to help your neighbors recover after a fire.

Red Cross staffers also say that while big, visible earthquakes and hurricanes often bring donations into the Red Cross, they often struggle to pay for smaller disasters like home fires. You can help people affected by disasters like fires as well as other local crises in our area by making a donation to support your local American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Staffers add that your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. You can visit http://www.smithcounty.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS to make a donation. You can also text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation from your mobile phone. Contributions may also be sent to the American Red Cross Smith County Chapter at P. O. Box 8588, Tyler, TX 75711.